Saxophonist | Arranger | Composer | Educator
Jordan VanHemert is a Korean American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader working in the contemporary post-bop tradition. An active international touring artist, he has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia — including frequent appearances in South Korea — at venues such as Dazzle in Denver, Cliff Bell’s in Detroit, and The Blue Llama in Ann Arbor. His recent recordings and touring have brought him into collaboration with leading figures in modern jazz including Terell Stafford, Michael Dease, Helen Sung, Rodney Whitaker, and Lewis Nash.
Work with Jordan
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![A man in a suit playing a saxophone on stage at a jazz club with a neon sign in the background reading 'Llama Jazz'.]()
Residencies
Jordan VanHemert's residency work reflects his dedication to artistic collaboration, cultural exchange, and community engagement. Through participation in creative residencies and educational initiatives, he has collaborated with internationally recognized musicians, educators, and students while developing original compositions and leading workshops.
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![A person dressed in a gray blazer and white shirt holding a gold-colored saxophone.]()
Recording
Jordan VanHemert's recording career spans projects as a leader, collaborator, composer, arranger, and featured soloist, with credits on numerous albums recorded across the United States and South Korea. Having worked in renowned studios including Troubadour Recording Studios, Big Sky Recording Studios, Mighty Fine Productions, Yagi Studio, The Church Studio, and Local Legend Recording, he brings both artistic vision and professional efficiency to every session.
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![A man in black clothing holding a gold saxophone, standing against a brown perforated wall, smiling at the camera.]()
Compositions
Jordan VanHemert's compositions blend contemporary jazz influences with deeply personal storytelling, exploring themes of identity, imagination, cultural experience, and human connection. Written for a diverse range of artists and ensembles, his works are characterized by lyrical melodies, expressive harmonic language, and a commitment to creating music that is both meaningful and accessible.
Discography
Recording has been a central part of Jordan VanHemert's artistic journey, serving as both a creative outlet and a means of preserving music for future generations. As a bandleader, he has released a growing catalog of acclaimed recordings, including I Am Not A Virus (2021), Nomad (2022), Metamorphosis (2023), Deep in the Soil (2024), and Survival of the Fittest (2025), with a new album scheduled for release in 2027. Each project captures a distinct chapter in his evolution as a saxophonist, composer, and storyteller, exploring themes of identity, resilience, cultural heritage, and human connection through the lens of contemporary jazz.
Collaborations
Jordan VanHemert’s collaborative and ensemble work reflects a wide ranging performance practice that spans duo settings, large jazz ensembles, and culturally rooted programming. Since 2025, he has performed regularly with guitarist Jocelyn Gould in duo and co-led configurations, blending melodic saxophone and guitar-driven jazz rooted in their shared Michigan university background while also engaging audiences as educators. His work with big bands extends his compositions into large ensemble settings, featuring tailored arrangements of music from his discography performed with university and high school jazz ensembles, highlighting the adaptability of his modern jazz language within the jazz tradition.
Visit the Shop
Survival of the Fittest is made up of music that I wrote during a difficult time in my life. I created this project as a reminder that difficult times do not define us. As the Japanese proverb says, “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
Survival of the Fittest Track Listing
Here and Now by Jordan VanHemert
Tread Lightly by Jordan VanHemert
Mourning Comes Again by Jordan VanHemert
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise by Sigmund Romberg arr. By Jordan VanHemert
Sea of Tranquility by Jordan VanHemert
Come Sunday by Duke Ellington arr. By Jordan VanHemert
Milyang Arirang Korean Traditional Arr. Jordan VanHemert
Mo’s Blues by Wyatt Harris
Survival of the Fittest by Jordan VanHemert
PERSONNEL:
Jordan VanHemert, saxophone
Terell Stafford, trumpet
Michael Dease, trombone
Helen Sung, piano
Rodney Whitaker, bass
Lewis Nash, drums
PRODUCTION INFO:
Produced by Michael Dease
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Corey DeRushia at Troubadour Recording Studios, East Lansing, MI
Production Assistant: Andrew Kim
Album Art by Nico Lee
Liner notes by Gary Fukushima
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
This arrangement was commissioned in 2022 by the University of Wyoming Jazz Studies program. This tune is the last composition on Andy Wheelock’s debut album, “View From Here.” This exciting tune is brought to life in the big band setting with muted trumpets adding color to Andy’s influences of the Cuban son clave.. Scored for 5 saxophones, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, and rhythm section, this arrangement is useful for educators.
if only in dreams... was written for bass trombonist Adam Graham and pianist Hyekyung Lee. This piece is about music composition being a tool of radical imagination. Since western thought places such heavy emphasis on objectivity, marginalized groups often utilize radical imagination in their art in order to create a future beyond the reality of oppression that we face on a daily basis. This has been more prevalent in the resurgence of anti-Asian racism brought on in the COVID-19 era.
In particular, this work is inspired by that of two artists: writer and poet Franny Choi and artist Jess X. Snow, mostly her murals. In writing this piece, I really wanted to capture this idea of radical imagination in music.
Jordan’s Set Up
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Selmer Supreme 92DL Alto Saxophone
Vandoren V16 Mouthpiece (A7S+ Tip Opening)
Vandoren M|O Ligature (Pink Gold Plated)
Vandoren ZZ reeds (strength 3)
Meridian Winds Heavy mass ergonomic neck screw
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Selmer Series III Soprano Saxophone
Vandoren V16 mouthpiece (S7 tip opening)
Vandoren M|O Ligature
Vandoren Java Red reeds (Strength 3)
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Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone
KB Vanguard copper neck
Vandoren V16 metal mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum ligature
Vandoren ZZ reeds (Strength 3)
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Trevor James silver flute
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Noblet Paris clarinet
Vandoren BD5 mouthpiece
Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic reeds (strength 3)
“Unsurprisingly the most endearing tunes are the collection of duets, as he goes mano a mano with Nash on the feisty "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", " graceful with Sung on "Sea Of Tranquility" and gloriously flickering like a church candle on " Come Sunday".”
—George W. Harris - JazzWeekly
“A favorite track for saxophone and rhythm follows its wise counsel: "Tread Lightly" wherein Nash delivers a master class in brushwork artistry, his feathery filigree and "think-you-can-lick-it?" wit filling stop-time theme and solo breaks—a playful, wink-wink nod to the emblematic genius of Thad Jones.”
—Fred Bouchard - NYC Jazz Record
“Throughout Survival Of The Fittest, Jordan VanHemert shows that music can help overcome adversity. The result is a satisfying album.”
—Scott Yanow - LA Jazz Scene
